What a wild ride it has been for the first six games of Clemson’s season. As we sit here today, the Clemson Football team sits at 4-2, 2-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, below the likes of Georgia Tech, Duke, and North Carolina. And despite the “season being over” as some would like to surmise, there is still a ton to play for, and quite honestly, a very bright future.
As Dabo Swinney has said, three plays away from being 6-0. However, those three plays have been CATASTROPHIC turnovers at the most inopportune time(s).
I have said over the course of the last few years that each season could have a book named after it. In 2021 it would have been titled “3rd and 8”, because it felt like every offensive drive the Tigers would end up in 3rd and 8 or longer. A recipe for disaster, especially where the offense was two seasons ago.
Last season, I would have titled the season, “Smoke and Mirrors”, as the team somehow managed to have an opportunity to be on a much larger stage than they wound up being in, but crashed and burned at the end of the season, dropping games to South Carolina and Tennessee in grand fashion. All the while had me scratching my head about how that team wound up winning double-digit games.
This season would likely have a title focused on turnovers. The title to come at a later date. The offense has shown glimpses of being extremely productive. The emergence of Tyler Brown and quality production from oft-injured Troy Stellato have been pleasant surprises. Quarterback Cade Klubnik has shown that he is capable of leading the team. Unfortunately, the flip side is this team has had issues with fundamentals at times, handoffs mostly, that have aided in the 2 losses.
Clemson’s defense is as good as any in the country. Without this defense, I am unsure as to how this season would look up to this point. Would a lesser defense given up more productive drives to Wake Forest last weekend? Would a lesser defense have folded after the offense gave them no help in the first half versus Charleston Southern? Maybe, maybe not, however, the point is, this defense is good enough to win a championship. (Note: Championship up to and including a National Championship)
Who would have thought the defensive backfield would be a strength this season? Nate Wiggins has thrust himself into a first-round pick projection by a lot of NFL draft gurus, and the guys around him are having great seasons as well. The defensive line has a ton of rotation, but no matter the combination, there is no true drop-off, and (at least) two freshmen have been a problem for opposing offensive lines. And the linebackers, they are as good as any in the country, and there is even depth at that position.
I found myself really like last year’s team despite losing the last two games and causing some frustration from a fan perspective. I like this team more. Sure, two losses stings, especially through only 6 games of the season, and if we’re being honest, there’s a chance for another loss (or two) on this schedule. There’s also a chance the 12 year run of 10-win seasons may be in danger as well. This team is still fun to watch (maybe minus last week’s effort offensively), and I like this team a ton more than I did last year.
I truly do not believe that I am a sunshine pumper at all. I come from an era of Tommy West and then Tommy Bowden after him to where we are today with Dabo Swinney. If anything I think Clemson will find a way to lose every weekend, based on doing so from the two coaches previous to Dabo. But there’s something about this squad that gives me hope for not only this season but beyond as well.
While I stated earlier that there is an opportunity to lose a game or two to end the season, I have faith that this bye week came at the perfect time in the season to get things fixed and tweaked. Now, will we see it immediately next weekend down in Miami? Maybe, maybe not. But I trust that all of the talent on the field (and those with the headsets on) will figure out a way to win games to close the year strong…and compete for championships again in ‘24.
